Unexpected surprise

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Yesterday on the way home from running errands and such my wife says "show me how to weld when we get home, it looks like fun and I want to learn something new!" One of the welders at work who happened to help me when I was doing my MechE senior design project asked to borrow my machine to fix his truck a few weeks back, and he used up all of my C25 so I got the wife started with 1/8" 6011 on a piece of scrap C4x5.4. I got her started just getting the arc started and keeping it tight. Burned through maybe a dozen rods and she had a good time.By no means am I an expert, or even experienced, but it was pretty cool to get to show my wife something I enjoy and see her get excited about doing something new.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Yea, New helmets, a plasma cutter, a few grinders, I can see it nowwww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:I'm with everyone else.  Time to stock up before she changes her mind!!!!!   1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:That's great that she has taken an interest in welding.  Now, you two will be pushing and shoving to see who gets to the welding machine first!Hint, get some 7014 rods for her to practice with.  The 60xx rods don't give as nice a bead (for some folks) and the 7014's are a drag rod.  They are easier to weld with and she'll probably get smoother, pleasing beads with them.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Now you can use this experience to justify any new piece of welding gear you want..."Honey, I really bought it for you!" Awesome
Reply:You need to get her out there and burn some more rod, and get her doing some MIG too. Get her more hooked on the welding bug before she knows what hit her. This will make it easier to get the OK to get other equipment when you need it. We all already know how the bite of the welding bug can make you want more of it. So try to get her more addicted to it while she still has the interest. Maybe make a small project together to keep her enthusiasm up, rather than just running practice beads. Unless that keeps her interest up for now. When it seems to start to wane, throw in the small project to do to rekindle the interest in welding. Try to think of something she would like/or use. Your lucky she is expressing an interest in learning how to weld. I bought my wife a Miller Matic 140 about on her birthday a few years ago(she made me buy HER a new sewing machine on MY birthday earlier in the year), and she still hasn't struck an arc with it yet, but I have. But then I haven't tried to sew either. But in my defense, I don't have a sewing hood that fits me.  Attached ImagesLast edited by Bistineau; 09-14-2014 at 08:43 PM.
Reply:Yup then she can make all sorts of things to clutter up friends &family  houses,like pot hangers and Owls . then she can move on to Steam Punk art.
Reply:Plenty of project ideas here to do that might interest her depending on what her other interests are. Yard art, horse shoe projects, and so on. Most time people find welding of interest if it lets them make something that interests them. Later welding becomes the major focus rather than the projects..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:My wife asked me to build her a new grill grate just for fish yesterday.   Needless to say, I'm quite exited.  It means justification for all the machinesTA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255   Needless to say, I'm quite exited. )
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauAre you saying you are standing outside now?
Reply:I got my girlfriend now wife out to weld one time. She was spooked by the pop and sparks of Mig and arc but loved the concentration and challenges of tig. Now if only I could teach how to draw and use the plasma table I could stop wasting time cutting all of her decorative and gifty things!Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:I had a dream last night where my wife said "Let me grab your stinger and show you what I can do."  Then I woke up and realized I'd just put her on a plane for a 30 day vacation in Thailand.  My wife is no welder, but she did better with my Browning 9mm Hi-power than I thought she would.  That was the first and last time I took her shooting."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:^ That might not be a good thing! Took my wife 40 or so shots to hit her first clay on her first time skeet shooting. I feel safe.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:Those are some pretty good ideas.... So for Christmas, go out and get her a nice helmet, gloves, coat and boots.  Along with that you plant the idea of all of the projects she could do like the people on Pinterest and before you know it she will be hinting to you about getting some other equipment to do what "she" wants to do... It's a win win situation...Lincoln Weldanpower A/C 225 D/C 210 /6kw auxiliary (code 9113 & 9108)Lincoln Weld Pak 100 MigMiller Maxstar 150 TigLincoln Scratch Tig 200 ampMiller 8-VS Suitcase Flux CoreHypertherm Powermax 30Victor Torches / Regulators
Reply:Originally Posted by ortegaejIt's a win win situation...
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWUntil you get divorced and she demands 1/2 your welders...
Reply:Boy that honey moon was short  between sept and now ,it's I want to weld to I want a divorce !
Reply:It's not a big messy thing, just what's best for both of us. We rushed into a lot and got in over our heads. I'm just glad we don't have kids to complicate matters.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Yea a friend of mine is getting a divorce , they had shared business assets .It has been dragging out for three years now !
Reply:Originally Posted by gxbxcBoy that honey moon was short  between sept and now ,it's I want to weld to I want a divorce !
Reply:Going to try to get the kiddo to start out with some 6011 tomorrow.Almost 9, but watching videos and, being outside with me making a few things she has some interest.  I just need to have an idea of something she can make (usefull for her) and find the metal.
Reply:9 year old daughter, my 1st thought on projects would be horse shoe coat hangers or some other sort of horse shoe art.Might be a bit late with the holiday tomorrow to locate some shoes however.Flower type yard art or assorted gifts for family members for Christmas also comes to mind..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan